[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 125 (Monday, June 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38916-38917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13952]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-6222-N-01]


Appointments to the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing- Federal Housing 
Commissioner, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

ACTION: Notice of the Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to 
the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC) to fill 
vacancies on the HCFAC.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 
established the HCFAC on April 14, 2015. This notice invites 
nominations for appointments to fill vacancies on the HCFAC.

DATES: All Nominations must be received no later than July 29, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Nominations must be in writing and submitted via email to 
[email protected]. Individuals who do not have internet access 
may submit nominations to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Housing Counseling, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 Seventh Street SW, Room 9224, Washington DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Virginia F. Holman, Housing Program 
Specialist, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of 
Housing Counseling, Office of Outreach and Capacity Building, 
[email protected], telephone number 540-894-7790. (this is not 
a toll-free number). Persons who have difficulty hearing or speaking 
may access this number via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay 
Service at (800) 877-8339 (toll-free number). Individuals with 
questions may also email [email protected] and in the subject 
line write ``HCFAC application question.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Authority

    The HCFAC is statutorily mandated to provide advice to the Office 
of Housing Counseling (OHC) (42 U.S.C. 3533(g)(4)). The HCFAC provides 
the OHC valuable advice regarding its mission to provide individuals 
and families with knowledge to obtain, sustain, and improve their 
housing through a strong national network of HUD-approved housing 
counseling agencies and HUD-certified counselors. The HCFAC, however, 
does not have any role in reviewing or awarding of OHC housing 
counseling grants and procurements. The HCFAC is subject to the 
requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix) 
(FACA), FACA regulations, and Presidential Memorandum ``Final Guidance 
on Appointments of Lobbyists to Federal Boards and Commissions,'' dated 
June 18, 2010, along with any relevant guidance published in the 
Federal Register or otherwise issued by

[[Page 38917]]

the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).\1\
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    \1\ See, https://www.whitehouse.gov/the:press-office/presidential-memorandum-lobbyists-agency-boards-and-Commissions 
(``Lobbyist on Agency Boards and Commissions''); see also 76 FR 
61756 (``Final Guidance on Appointments of Lobbyists to Federal 
Boards and Commissions''); and 79 FR 47482 (``Revised Guidance on 
Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal Advisory Committees, Boards, and 
Commissions'').
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    The HCFAC shall consist of not more than 8 individuals appointed by 
the Secretary. The membership will equally represent the mortgage 
industry, real estate industry, consumers, and HUD-approved housing 
counseling agencies. Each member shall be appointed in his or her 
individual capacity for a term of 3 years.
    Appointees whose terms have expired are eligible to apply to be 
nominated for the positions announced herein.

II. Nominations for the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee

    HUD is seeking nominations for membership on the HCFAC. Nominees 
shall have experience representative of at least one of the 4 
categories--the mortgage industry, real estate industry, consumers, and 
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. Nominations may be made by 
agency officials, members of Congress, the general public, professional 
organizations, and self-nominations. Nominees must be U.S. citizens and 
cannot be U.S. Government employees.
    All appointed nominees will be serving on the HCFAC in their 
individual capacity and not in a representative capacity, therefore, no 
Federally-registered lobbyists may serve on the HCFAC.\2\ Individual 
capacity, as clarified by OMB, refers to individuals who are appointed 
to committees to exercise their own individual best judgment on behalf 
of the government, such as when they are designated as Special 
Government Employees as defined in 18 U.S.C. 202. Nominations to the 
HCFAC must be submitted using Form HUD-90005 (``Application for 
Membership Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee'') which is 
available on the Office of Housing Counseling's Federal Advisory 
Committee web page at: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/housing-counseling/federal-advisory-committee/. Each nominee will be required 
to provide all the information requested on HUD-90005. Nominations 
submitted under this Federal Register Notice shall remain valid for two 
(2) years after the close of the deadline for applications. HUD 
reserves the right to solicit new nominations, at any time, to fill 
HCFAC vacancies.
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    \2\ See 79 FR 4782 (``Revised Guidance on Appointment of 
Lobbyists to Federal Advisory Committees, Boards, 
and\\Commissions'') (clarifying that federally registered lobbyists 
may not serve on advisory committee, board, or Commission in an 
``individual capacity.'')
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    Nominations should be submitted via email to 
[email protected]. Individuals who do not have internet access 
may submit nominations to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Housing Counseling, HUD, 451 7th Street SW, Washington DC 20410.
    Those who submitted applications previously, and those who have 
been appointed previously, must reapply if they wish to be considered 
for an appointment.
    All Nominations must be received no later than July 29, 2020.
    HCFAC members will be required to adhere to the conflict of 
interest rules applicable to Special Government Employees as defined in 
18 U.S.C. Section 202(a). The rules include relevant provisions in 
Title 18 related to criminal activity, Standards of Ethical Conduct for 
Employees of the Executive Branch (5 CFR part 2635) and Executive Order 
12674 (as modified by Executive Order 12731). Therefore, applicants 
will be required to submit to pre-appointment screenings relating to 
conflict of interest and financial interests that HUD might require. If 
selected, HCFAC members will also be asked to complete OGE Form 450 
(Confidential Financial Disclosure Report).
    Members of the HCFAC shall serve without pay but shall receive 
travel expenses including per diem in lieu of subsistence as authorized 
by 5 U.S.C. 5703. Regular attendance is essential to the effective 
operation of the HCFAC.
    This Notice is not intended to be the exclusive method by which HUD 
will solicit nominations and expressions of interest to identify 
qualified candidates. However, all nominees for membership on the HCFAC 
will be subject to the same application process and evaluation 
criteria.

IV. Selection and Meetings.

    Member selections and appointments will be made by the Secretary 
and will be based on the Nominee's qualifications to contribute to the 
accomplishment of the HCFAC's objectives. Membership on the Committee 
is personal to the appointee and committee members serve at the 
discretion of the Secretary.
    The estimated number of in-person meetings anticipated within a 
fiscal year is two (2) in Washington DC or elsewhere in the United 
States. Additional meetings may be held as needed to render advice to 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary for OHC. The meetings may use electronic 
communication technologies for attendance.
    All meetings will be announced by notice in the Federal Register. 
Announcements of the meetings may be made using other methods as well.

    Dated: June 22, 2020.
Len Wolfson,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2020-13952 Filed 6-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P